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Buckeyes embarrassed
By George Starks
CNO Sports Editor
When Ohio State coach Luke Fickell walked off the field after the
Buckeyes embarrassing 24-6 loss to the Miami Hurricanes, the look on
Fickell’s face told the whole story.
It was a look of complete amazement. Nothing less. If that wasn’t
enough, the look on the faces of Ohio State fans was one of total
disbelief. Sixty minutes of football and Ohio State could muster just
two field goals.
The writing was on the wall right from the beginning. When Ohio State
went three and out on its opening possession, Miami wasted little time
after the Buckeyes punt. It took just four plays and 1:19 to score.
When Canes Lamar Miller rambled for 54 yards on Miami’s first play from
scrimmage, it was obvious, Miami had saddled up its horses and was
ready to ride the Buckeyes for 60 minutes.
By games end, Miami had out-gained Ohio State 363-203 and the
combination of Joe Bauserman and Braxton was a dismal four of 18
passing for just 35 yards.
“We’ve got to do a better job all around,“ said Fickle.
I hate to say I told you so but it was obvious from the Akron game as
well as the Toledo game. Yes, both were wins but the scarlet and gray
looked horrible in getting them.
Let’s face folks, beating the hapless Zips, 42-0, was great but the
offense sputtered most of the time. Against a much better Toledo team,
it was even worse as Ohio State was trailing most of the time, just
trying to stay even.
The Buckeyes have appeared in every The Associated Press poll since
Nov. 28, 2004. And for the first time in exactly 23 years, the Buckeyes
lost a road game to an unranked nonconference opponent—the last time
that happened was Sept. 17, 1988, a 42-10 defeat against Pittsburgh 23
tears ago with John Cooper at the helm, a 42-10 loss.
“We pride ourselves on not giving up big plays,” Fickell said. “But the
big plays hurt us.”
But it was the big plays that hurt the Buckeyes. Miller’s 54-yard romp
pretty much set the table.
Next week, Ohio State will host Colorado and if anyone saw the game
Saturday between Colorado and Colorado State, you know what this game
brings to the table. Colorado won that game 28-14.
After the Colorado game, the Buckeyes get into the Big 10 schedule at
home with Michigan State and the Nebraska a week later. In the eight
game Big 10 schedule, Ohio State should beat Indiana on November 5 at
the home. Everything else is a crap shoot.
Sorry folks but we may have seen the best Ohio State has to offer this
year already. Saturday was called road test weekend. Give Ohio State a
big fat ‘F’.
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